Curtain light



Dcf, T924.

t 1,518,039 D. M. wlNANs CURTAIN LIGHT Filed oct. s, 1921 z'sheets-sneet '1 Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

U N l T D S 'I DANIEL lVI. WINANS, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

CURTAIN LIGHT.

Application led October 5, 1921.

hicle curtains, heilig particularly adapted for use where a large curtain light is desired and where the vehicle top has a lining, although it is not thus limited as the invention may be embodied in a light of any size and shape and regardless of the presence or absence of the lining for the vehicle top.

The common practice heretofore where a large light is used has been to provide a wooden fra-me which is composed of several pieces glued together. The joints of such a frame are liable to spring apart under the strain put upon the fabric and webbing of the vehicle top in order to hold the vehicle top taut, as is commonly done. There a wooden frame is employed the fabric is held by tacking it to the inside or seat for the glass and if it is not-perfectly smooth, it becomes necessary to remove the tacks and readjust the fabric to loosen it or pull it taut 0 and then re-tack it. The glass coming against the heads of the tacks is liable to become cracked and, further, a very uneven and insecure seat is provided for the glass, allowing water to have access to the space between the glass and the frame, resulting in discoloring the lining of the curtain, rotting the fabric, and impairing the glued joints. l/Vooden frames also possess the disadvantage of being difficultto suspend from points half way between the outer and inner fabric by the stay straps commonly used for that purpose, and, consequently, the outline of the stay straps shows through the lining, particularly after the fabric has become stretched.

My invention has for its object the provision of a curtain light which overcomes all of the defects inhering in curtain lights having wooden frames and which will be water tight, non-warping, will seat the glass in such manner that it is firmly held and yet is thoroughly cushioned, and which, also,'ren ders the operation of installation rapid and easily accomplished.

In my curtain light sheet metal stampings comprise the frame and least one of these Serial No. 505,537.

stampings is provided with a channel in which is a cushion packing which forms the seat that bears against the edge of the glass and said cushion is compressed when the inner and outer frames are fastened together.

Preferably rubber tubing of any desired cross sectional shape but usually circular in cross section, is employed as the packing or cushion and that form is illustrated in the drawings. It is within the scope of myl invention, however, to employ an elastic cushion or packing which is so-lid, instead of tubular. In any instance, the cross sectional shape of the packing or elastic cushion is not essential and my invention is not limited thereto eX- cept where specifically stated in the claims.

Where the invention is used on tops having a lining, the light is preferably provided with inner and outer frames both of which have channels containing elastic or cushioning packing and, preferably, the frames are duplicates Where the light is usedon a top having no lining, the elastic packing may be employed on both the inner and outer frames, or, only on the outer frame.

The provision of duplicate inner and outer frames enables the same form of metal stamping to be employed and the same size and shape of elastic packing or cushioning to be used, beside providing for a cushion seat for both sides of the glass at its marginal portion. It is to be understood, however, that unless recited in the claims the inA vention` is not limited to duplicate inner and outer frames, although the fact that my duplicate frames may he made up from a single set of dies serves to materially reduce their production cost. In offering the trade f y a stock line of modern curtain light frames, a considerable number of different sizes must be provided for in order to properly` meet the expected market demands. This involves keeping on handa corresponding large number of expensive dies for which the die charge naturally amounts to a considerable proportion of the total cost ofproducing stamped curtain light frames. It is a primary object of the present invention to simplify the required dies and at the same time to cut in half the die charge over such conventional types of two part frames which can not be manufactured as duplicates of each other. v

To adequately stiffen the frames, they are provided with ianges which are detachably connected by any suitable fastenngs, such as screws, screw bolts: with nuts, clinching connectors, and the like, permitting separation when it is necessary to replace the glass with another pane.

The flanges of the frames are provided with slots for the connection of the ends of the stay straps cornnionly used between the lining and curtain. The flanges being located midway the inner and outer frames when the latter are connected together, l thus provide for the location of the stay/f straps inidway between the lining and curtain and, consequently, when the fabric becomes stretched froinv use, there is little tendency for the outline of the straps to show against the fabric to detract from the appearance thereof VMy invention has the ad antage, ainong others, of affording verj,7 tight and neat connection between the fabric and the freine, lhere a lining is used, the inner and outer franies are coinpletely concealed and the cnrtain and fabric corne to the outer and inner faces of theglass in a sinooth and .finished inanner. l it the saine tinie, the faste. es which connect the inner and outer ir together not only press the elastic cushion packing tight acainst the pane but the pecting, being wedged into the channels in the fraines, tightly presses the edges ol' the fabric against the walls of the channels, resulting in a secure clamping action wl h prevents the fabric from pulling out. frames are easily taken apart, however, when the lining is unfastened from the bow of the top and, once the pressure is removed freni the packing, it can be easily reinoved from its channel to provide for any desired adjustment of the fabric or replacement thereof or of the pacli'iug. rlhe cushion joint 'provided adapts itself to any unevenness in the class and n'ialzes a water-tight joint, overcoming defects inhering` in. wood.- en fraines as previously described.

rllhe forni ofthe inner and outer frames is such, regardless of whether these frames are duplicates, that they collectively forni an abutinent adapted to center tl' edge of il@ the glass and prevent it frein slidiinf. l lThe fraines are conveniein'gly niade in the forni of nietal stanipings suitable L, affording lightness and strength. The channels constitute the interior of beads or troughelike parts of the frames. lf desired, particularly at rounded or anp ilar parts of the lightn the fabric of th in and lining may be notched or slit and held down in the channel or bead by an adhesive such as .shellao` --l ain aware that inyinveiI i, susceptible '-of modification witnou': o Jarting from its essential principle and, consequently, the disclosure f certain enfiodinients thereof which show pvfed forins are to be considered. as illustrative, instead n, e iii en `it except where they cone toocllier at i! of restrictive, of the scope of the invention-` ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is view looking toward the ont side of an automobile curtain which is equipped with niy improved fraines and light., the curtain being broken l the lining and stay st .'aps appeai full lines.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view in cross section and with certain broken away, looking toward the hl, the inside of the curtain.

3 is a detail view lookingl towar@L inner face of the outer franic at "he cii corner, showing the .manner in which inargin of' the curtain .may be slit l f illustrating how the elastic packing plied.

Fig. l is a detail section of where the elastic cushion is one side of the glass; and

5 is a detail of another niodili showing channels or beads of `polygon .i forni.

rllhe curtain appears at l and the lining is shown at 2, rllhe pane of glass or li;;ht" appears at 3. rlhe stay straps are shown a niodiication used on cnil:

curely held together, with the flanges ffv' lr rthe fasteninge` i All t ting, by fastenings ll. inay be of any desired forni; l have s: f f screw bolts and nuts, the latter beai, if? against the beads l which prevent them troni becoming accidentally unse However, screws could be substituted will be passed through one of the flanges and engage screw threads on the other flange or,

split expanded fasteners inight llfhatever fasteners are employed, 8 are clamped tightly together an( half way across the ,wiiiith of the fir.. and G so that the stays el are located ninlfray the curtain l and lining if? and hence da show any outline against t The beads i are of trough-shape provide endless grooves or channels face the pane 3, but preferably do not used.

.. i nu,

and constitute an ahinl the cflfi'rf ci the pane to prevent the latter ,troni sini" The niargins of the curtain l and lining 2 are brought around the piece Y and laid inside the channels'l, as shown at le. Elastic cushioning or packing strips l5 are pressed against the infolded inargins le and fill the channels l2. 'llhe elastic packing strips or cushions l5 are shown as being pieces of cylindrical rubber tubing which entend all the way around the channels and are of such diameter that they snugly wedge into the channels 12 and firmly hold the fabric (either 1 or 2, or both) in the beads. The elastic packings 15 project from the beads and, consequently, when the frames 5 and 6 are in position as shown in Fig. 2, the packing 15 is compressed and forms a tight, yet elastic, seat for the sides of the marginal portion of the pane 3 and wedge the margins of the fabrics into the channels 12, thus tightly clamping the fabrics to the frames. Preferably the beads will be so formed that where the fabrics are re-bent back intc the channels, they will not touch the pane.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4. the curtain 1 has no lining. The outer frame 5, its bead 7, and the elastic cushion 15 are einployed but in lieu of the inner frame 6 there is employed a stamped metal frame 16 having a flange 8a to correspond with the flange 8 on the outer frame 5, the flange 8 being provided with a bent part 8b to match the corresponding part on the flange 8a. The bent flanges 8a, 8b, afford a neater finish when the lining is not employed but it will be understood that the flanges may appear :is in Figs. 1 and 2. The frame 16, in this modilication, has no elastic packing. The fra-mes are fastened by any suitable fastenings 11.

rllhe modification shown in Fig. 5 is in all respects similar to the construction shown .in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that the beads 7 may be of general squared or angular or polygonal form.

In all forms of the invention the beads are covered by the fabric and, with the exception of the form shown in Fig. 4, the metal frames are completely covered so that no fastenings, nuts, screw heads or the like appear to mar the finished appearance of the light. Consequently the light is well adapted for use not only on tops for moderate priced automobiles but also for expensive ones where particular attention is paid to having the fittings or trimmings of highly finished appearance.

In Fig. 3 the fabric 1 is shown as slit or cut, facilitating its conformation to the channel at the curved or angular part of the frame.

The inturned or marginal parts of the fabric which enter the channels of the beads may be secured by shellac, if desired, particularly at corners or angles as shown in Fig. 3. It is pointed out, however, that my iinproved trough shaped corrugation serves a two fold purpose and that by its use in connection with a resilient packing, it becomes unnecessary to resort to any spurs, prongs or ementing of the fabric to the frame ineinber. In fact, an important advantage afforded by the described disposition of these elements lies in the ease with whichl each frame section may be secured to its respective fabric preparatory to the final assembly of the frame structure as applied tovehicle purposes.

In the preferred method of mounting and concealing my two part frame between lined curtains, the slitted marginal edges or flaps of one of the fabric openings are. first inturned over the free inniost leg edge ofits frame corrugation and smoothly .fitted against the interior trough surface of the l grooved recess as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the inserted resilient packing may be worked into this recess to snugly press the interposed fabric flaps against said confin-l ing surface.. It will be apparent that this preliminary tie or retaining means for said flaps with respect to their respective frame sections, is still such that the flaps may readily be adjusted to facilitate a perfectly smooth and unwrinkled mounting of eitherv the curtain or the lining fabric prior tol mounting the complementary frame members in place upon the vehicle.

This adjustable feature is one of primary:

importance, particularly as applied to the fully concealed type of frame, since it allows of perfect mounting at a low cost of installation.

The tubular packing is preferably of ay size that will more than fill the troughshaped corrugation so as to allow a portion of the resilient packing to extend outward beyond the free ininost leg edge thereof.

After each of the complementary frame sec-y` tions have been prepared in the fashion indicated, they are bolted together and drawn toward the pane, which in turn causes the outstanding packing portions disposed on opposite sides of the pane to be pressed mere tightly against the interposed inturned fabi ric, without however allowing the inniost leg edge of the frame to contact the pane. This improved mounting not only securely grips both the curtain and the lining fabric in place and prevents them from tearing out of their respective frames, but the packing at the same time serves to make a tight water proof seal between the curtain fabric and the pane in an eminently simpleand effective manner.

It is within the scope of my invention to clamp the fabric between the flanges S, oi' 8 and 8a, instead of clamping the fabric iii the manner shown in the drawings and herecuring said flanges together, and packing carried by either or both of the frames, and bearing` on the side of the pane, and a curtain fabric held by said packing against the frame and concealing the frame having the packing.

2. A curtain light holder comprising pane-holding frames having flanges disposed face to face in close relationship around the edge of the pane, one or both of said frames being provided with a trougl shaped bead disposed in an overlapping relation to the margin of one face of the pane, packing ycarried in the bead or beads, fastenings securing said flanges together.7 and a curtain fabric held. in said bead by said packing and concealing the bead and its frame.

3. A curtain light holder comprising pane-holding frames having' flanges disposed Aface to face in close relationship around the edge of the pane, fastenings securing said flanges together, and packing carried by either or both of the frames and bearing on the side of the pane7 said frames collectively being adapted to constitute an abutment surrounding` the edge of lthe pane to prevent it from sliding, and a curtain fabric held by said packing against the frame and concealing the frame having the packing.

4. Af curtain light holder comprising duplicate pane holding frames having flanges disposed face to face in close relationship around the edge of the pane, fastenings securing said flanges together said frames being provided with trough-shaped beads located on opposite sides of the pane, packings in said beads which are disposed on opposite sides of the pane, and icurtain fabrics whose edges are inturned and lie between the respective beads and the pane, said cure tain fabrics wholly concealing both of the frames.

5. ln a curtain light comprising a pane and complementary frame members therefor; each such frame member being provided with an outstanding sheet metal flange for one of said members adapted to encompass and center the edge of the pane and disposed to lie within the planes deining the sides of said pane7 and an integral cross-sectionally trough-shaped eorrugation of which one trough leg entends laterally from the centering edge of said flange while the other somewhat lshorter leg thereof is inwardly disposed in an overlapping relation to the margin of one side face of the pane, a resilient packing inserted in said corrugation, curtain fabric interposed between said corrugation and the pane, means carried by the other frame member adapted to engage the opposite side of the pane., and fastening means adapted to clamp the flanges about the pane.

6. ln a curtain light comprising a pane and complementary frame members therefor, each such frame member being provided with an outstanding sheet metal flange for one of said members adapted to encompass and center the edge of the pane, and an integral cross-sectionally ytrough-shaped corrugation of which one trough leg extends latially from the centering edge of said flai'ige while the other leg thereof is inwardly disan overlapping relation to the l of one side face of the pane1 a re i i packing inserted in said corrugation7 a curtain fabric disposed in an offset relation to the packed side of the pane, said cui; n having an opening of which the innell border portion is inturned over the free inmost leg edge of said corrugation, means carried by the other frame member adapted to engage the opposite side of `the. pane, ant clamping means between said complemennbers sewing to hold said packing in sealed engagement with the inturned fahric border.

7. ln a ycurtain light comprising a set of duplicate sheet-metal frame members adapted `to clamp a pane therebetween, each such frame member being provided with an out standing flange encompassing and centering the edge of the pane and adapted to abut face to face around the edge of the pane., a crossseetionally trough-shaped corrugation being provided for each of said flanges of which corrugation one trough leg extends laterally and away from the plane of the pane while the other leg of said trough is disposed inwardly in relation to the afer@A said leg and toward the pane., an inserted packing for each of said corrugations disposed on opposite sides of the pane, a curtain fabric having an opening therethrough of which the. inner border portion is inturned over the free inmost leg edge of one of said corrugations7 and fastening means for the abutting flanges serving to clamp both. packings toward the pane and simultaneously make a weather proof oint between said inturned fabric and the pane.

8. ln a curtain light comprising a set of duplicate sheet metal frame members adapted to clamp a pane therebetween, each such frame member being provided with an outstanding flange encompassing and centering the edge of the pane and adapted to abut face to face around the edge of the pane, the inner centering edge of the respective flanges being extended laterally and away fron their abutting flange faces, each terminating in an integral cross-sectionally trough shaped corrugation one of whose trough legs extends laterally and away from the plane of the pane while the other leg of said trough is disposed inwardly in relation to the aforesaid leg and toward the pane, an inserted packing seated in each of said cortary i rugations and disposed on opposite sides of the pane, a curtain fabric having an opening therethrough of which the inner marginal portion is inturned over said inmost edge of one of the corrugations to conceal said corrugation and to make a weatherproof joint with the pane, and clamping means adapted to draw said duplicate members toward the pane.

9. In a curtain light comprising members adapted to clamp a pane therebetween, each such frame member being provided with an outstanding flange for one of said members mounted around the edge of the pane, a cross-sectionally trough-like corrugation being provided for said flange, of which corrugation one trough leg extends laterally and away from the flange and the plane of the pane while the other leg thereof is disposed inwardly in relation to the aforesaid leg and toward the pane, an inserted packing for said corrugation, and a curtain fabric having an opening therethrough of which the inner border portion is inturned over the free inmost leg edge and between said corrugation and the packed side of the frame, the curtain proper being disposed outwardly and away from said free leg edge in an offset relation to the packed side of the pane.

10. In a curtain light comprising frame members adapted to clamp a pane therebetween, a flange element for one of said members mounted around the edge of the pane, a cross-sectionally trough-like corrugation being provided for said flange adapted to overlap the margin of one face of the frame, an inserted packing for said corrugation, said packing adapted to more than fill said trough and resiliently bear against the surface dening the interior of said trough, and a curtain fabric having an opening therethrough of which the inner marginal portion is inturned over the free inmost leg edge of said corrugation and interposed between said packing and the interior trough surface to constitute a preliminary adjustable tie therebetween adapted to facilitate the unwrinkled mounting of the inturned curtain fabric with respect to said frame member.

1l. In a curtain light comprising a set of duplicate endless fra-me members adapted to be clamped about a pane, each such member being provided with a flange encompassing the edge of the pane and with a cross-sectionally trough-shaped corrugation for each of said flanges, said corrugations being disposed inwardly of their respective lianges and in an overlapping relation to the margin portion of opposite sides of the pane, an inserted packing for each of said corrugations adapted to more than fill and resiliently bear against the surface defining the interior of said trough, a curtain fabric having an opening therethrough for each of said members, of which fabrics the inner border portion is inturned over the free inmost edge of its respective corrugation and interposed between its packing and the respective interior trough surface to constitute a preliminary adjustable tie with respect to the corresponding frame member, and clamping means for said flanges adapted to draw both packings toward the pane and serving to augment the adjusted grip of said packings upon their respective interposed inturned fabrics, said curtain fabrics being spaced apart and blinded in to wholly conceal both frame members and also their clamping means.

l2. In a curtain light comprising frame members adapted to clamp a pane therebetween, a flange element for one of said members mounted around the edge of the pane, a cross-sectionally trough-like corrugation being provided for said flange adapted to overlap the margin of one face of the pane, a resilient packing inserted within said corrugation adapted to grippingly engage the interior sides thereof, a curtain fabric having an opening therethrough of which the inner marginal portion is inturned and interposed between a gripped side of the corrugation and its packing, said inserted packing constituting a preliminary adjustable holding means for said inturned fabric, means carried by the other frame member adapted to engage the opposite side of the pane, and clamping means between said members adapted to draw said packing toward the pane and serving to augment the adjusted grip of said packing upon said interposed inturned fabric.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DANIEL M.y WINANS. 

